Descendant Of The Red Moon

Chapter 13

“What? How? Aren’t you supposed to be full of those marks then?” I asked baffled.

“I am, I’ve just been hiding them”, my dad answered and hesitantly took something from one of the drawers of his desk. He stood up and held a small knife against his upper arm before he started dragging it against his skin. Is he crazy?

I stood up and wanted to run towards him but when I saw there was no blood, I stood still, my eyes glued to his arm. He continued to draw something and when he was done, the lines he drew turned darker and right before my eyes multiple tattoos started appearing all over my fathers body. Then I understood, they were his marks.

He finally looked up but I just continued to scan all the marks, my mouth probably wide open.

“I understand that this is all very confusing”, my dad said when sat back down in his chair. I sat back down as well, millions of questions running inside my head.

“How didn’t that cut you? You weren’t even bleeding”, I looked up at my dad.

“As you probably know, silver is used to hunt werewolves”, he started and I nodded.

“It’s also used to draw our marks. We can’t just use any knife, it has to be silver”

“Wow”, I whispered. This s**t is crazy…

“But why was I the only one that needed to hide from the hunters?” I asked next. I mean if it’s true that means Jake, mom and himself would be in just as much trouble as me.

“Because your grandfather is absolutely crazy”, he gritted through his teeth. I looked at him confused before he continued.

“He believes you would be one of the most powerful hunters to ever exist but I won't let him turn you into a killing machine”, he told me as his hands balled into fists. But what does he mean with killing machine?

“Why would he want me to kill? Hunters just protected the supernaturals”, I asked and he started laughing. It wasn’t his usual laugh however, it was laced with hate.

“Hunters are killers honey, it doesn’t matter what way you look at it. Whatever you read in those books would be beautiful, if it were the reality”, he said and I finally understood.  Logan’s hostility against them, that time at the clearing when those wolves protected Alexander when I had pushed him and my grandmother that had, not randomly as I first thought, attacked Alexanders pack.

“So my grandmother died when she went to kill Alexanders pack”, I whispered when reality hit me, my head low.

“Yes, she died after she killed the alpha, when she killed Alexander’s dad”

After some more talk with my dad, most things finally fell into place. Apart from feeling relieved to know the truth, I also had a heavy feeling in my chest. I felt awful for everything I had sent everybody through.  Because of me, my family had to throw away their life to go into hiding to keep me save. Because of me, there was an attack on the pack that could have cost lives and I doubt it will be the last one. And worst of all, because of me Alexanders chances to live happy and peacefully with his mate are ruined. I mean how would you take it; your father gets killed and it turns out the killer’s granddaughter is your mate and protecting her brings nothing but danger to your pack. To top that she’s been doing nothing but pushing you away and being resistant from the very start…

When we decided to get back to the rest, we found most of them sitting at the kitchen table.

Logan and Jake were fighting over cookies, while Ashton and my mom were talking. It was quite a funny sight when you think back at what my dad just told me about hunters and werewolves. They looked up at us and my mom immediately brightly smiled at me.

“Hey sweetie, come have some cookies. I just made them this morning”, she said and plucked away the plate from the two boys who immediately started pouting.

“No, thank you mom. I’m not really hungry”, I told her before returning her smile. She put the plate back with the boys as my eyes started looking for Alexander.

“Were did Alexander go?” I asked looking at the two werewolves and I could have sworn I saw their expressions turn sour for a moment.

“He had to leave”, Ashton spoke and just like that all my worries from before came back. He doesn’t even let me go far from the packhouse without him and all of a sudden he leaves me here.

“He and Chris had something urgent to do in the house”, Logan immediately added but it still didn’t make me feel any better. He’s been acting different since this morning and it’s awful, I never would have thought he would affect me this much.

“Why don’t we play some games or something before you guys leave, spent some time together”, my mother spoke, ushering everyone to sit at the table.

“Sure, we have some time before we have to leave”, Logan said but then his eyes turned to Ashton as the both of them just silently continued to stare at each other. After a few more seconds they looked away and Ashton turned to my father.

“Could we use your office for a minute sir, Logan and I have something important we have to discuss”, Ashton asked him in all seriousness and not even a second after he nodded, Ashton dragged Logan out of the kitchen. So now these two decide to act strange as well…

My family just ignored the matter and started putting a random game onto the table. f**k, why is everything working on my nerves and emotions today.

“I’ll be right back, just gotta use the bathroom quickly”, I told my family after I decided I wasn’t gonna drop this. I walked out of the kitchen and walked straight to the office, not even bothering about the bathroom. I don’t even know where it is anyway. I placed my ear against the door and luckily I hear their voices.

“This is not fair Ashton”

“I know that but this isn’t our business”

“It is our business. Victoria’s like a sister to me”

“He doesn’t want her to know about them, Logan. That’s his choice”

“Veronica wants to tell her too, she told me. She feels awful for lying to her”

“Alexander’s the alpha, it’s his decision”

“That’s just bullshit, dude and you know it. How do you think you would react when you found out they were together”, I heard Logan say and I froze. So that’s what’s going on, they’re together...

I felt like somebody just ripped my heart from my chest. He deserves better anyway, why would he still want anything to do with me after everything.

I don’t know how long I stood there but all of a sudden, the doors flew open as they attempted to step out. Their gazes fell on me, panic clear on their faces.

“It’s not what you think, Tori”, Logan tried as he attempted to approach me. I instantly took a few steps back as my eyes stayed focused on the floor.

“It’s okay” I looked up at them and I saw them both look at each other, contemplating what to do next.

“Why don’t we go back, he’ll te-“, Logan started rambling before I stopped him.

“I’m staying here. So you just do what you gotta do but I’m not going back”, I told them and rushed upstairs before either of them could say something. I can’t go back there. If he wants to be with Veronica, then I understand but I can’t stay and look at them being happy. I guess you could call me selfish but can you blame me?

I opened the first door I found on the first floor and stepped in, leaning my back against the door.

I look around the room, that obviously belonged to Jake, before I slowly slid down to the floor, closing my eyes. f**k, it really feels like someone just broke my heart.

I just sat there, crying, thinking and ignoring every attempt they made to talk to me. More time passed and I felt my phone go off but I just kept my eyes closed. A part of me wanted it to be Alexander, telling me this is all just a joke and another part of me just wants it to be Lisa so I can cry my eyes out to her. I eventually picked it up without opening my eyes and spoke.

“Hello?”

“Hey, are you okay? Logan just mindlinked me, telling me that he needed me to talk to you”, Amélie’s voice came through the phone.

“I don’t know”, I said as I sobbed.

“What’s going on, Tori?” she asked worried.

“Alexander’s just been so distant since yesterday”, I finally told her, deciding I’ll ask about Veronica later, and I heard her relax

“You really don’t have to worry. I can promise you, you did nothing wrong”, she told me reassuringly. But why is he acting like this then?

“Is he like this because of the never have I ever game?” I asked her, my voice not coming out as more than a whimper.

“Yes and no”, she said.

“How?

“No because I know that it didn’t change his perspective about you, he still cares for you all the same”, she added and continued before I could ask about the yes.

“Yes because I know that he’s frustrated because the mating process hasn’t been finished”

“So he’s annoyed because I haven’t had s*x with him?” I spoke, feeling slightly triggered about that.

“You can’t see it like that. He’s annoyed because his instincts and mind are at a constant battle with each other. He wants to do this at your pace but not mating with you is taking its toll on him because his nature is constantly telling him to mate. The game has just made him more possessive about you”

“You haven’t seen it but his control has been on a thin leach from the start. He’s able to hide it with a smile whenever you’re around but when you’re not, he’s been nothing but irritated or antsy”, she told me, taking away some of my worries.

“He still left me here”, I complained.

“Yeah, he came back 2 hours ago. Veronica needed him for something”, she spoke and I felt my heart ache again. So he left me for Veronica, again.

“I just don’t know how he feels about me”, I told her, frustratedly running a hand trough my hair.

“You’re asking the wrong question, Tori”, she chuckled.

“What does that mean?”

“You should be asking yourself how you feel about him”, she told me. I don’t really know what’s been happening to me since he stepped into my life. Sure, in the beginning we just bickered with each other but since then I’ve grown quite attached to him. I’m happy whenever he’s around, I’m sad whenever he is. He could tell me the sky is purple and I’d believe him. When he’s not with me, he consumes my thoughts to a point where I think it’s unhealthy. And the worst parts is, is that I’ve been ignoring it all along…

“I-…, I…”

“You don’t have to tell me, Tori. You have to admit it to yourself”, she interrupted my mumbling.

“I think I’m in love with him”, I whispered and I felt consumed with all sorts of emotions before they quickly turned sour again. He doesn’t want me, he wants Veronica…

“But it doesn’t matter, he has V-“

“WHAT ON EARTH DID YOU DO?” I heard yelling from downstairs before it felt like all hell broke loose.

“I have to go”, I spoke before putting away my phone. I quietly made my way out of the room to the stairs, the sounds of yelling getting louder.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘SHE’S STAYING’?” I reached the end of the stairs and saw Alexander in the living room with the other two wolves, his back turned to me. Logan and Ashton moved their gaze to me and after a few seconds Alexander turned around.

“Leave”, he commanded and they bolted out of the room, leaving me alone with him. He came to me, his proximity  immediately making me nervous.

“Why are they telling me you’re staying here?” he asked, his angry demeanor replaced by an desperate one.

“Because I am”

“Why?” he looked at me with big eyes. I feel terrible for this put I just can’t watch them together.

“I can’t go back. I don’t want to be there anymore"

“So you’re leaving me?” he asked, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

“Yes”